The Bluetick Coonhound is a scenthound originally bred in the USA. They are primarily hunting dogs, used as such for hundreds of years, so be ready to deal with some usual hound behavior before you get one home. Bluetick Coon is a beautiful dog of muscular build, ready to work and stay on the trail all day long. That is another thing to consider – they are cuddly, but they need a daily amount of mental and physical stimulation. They are also, like other hounds, noisy and have a high prey drive. 

Size

The Bluetick hound is a muscular and compact dog. They are droopy ears and a long, well-developed, and deep muzzle. These dogs are excellent at what they were bred to do – follow a cold trail of prey for miles and miles a day. 

The official breed standard measures are:

• Male height: 22 to 27 inches (55 to 68 cm)
• Male weight: 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg)
• Female height: 21 to 25 inches (53 to 63 cm)
• Female weight: 45 to 65 pounds (20 to 30 kg)

A Bluetick coonhound is not a small dog. It’s a big dog that needs space! That means either get him a large dog bed, crate, or let him sleep in the bed with you.

Color

There is only one type of coat color for the breed, and that is a blue ticked and tan coat color. That’s why the breed has the name Bluetick – mottled body with variously shaped black spots. However, the head and back are primarily solid black with no spots. Spots of tan color appear above the eyes (eyebrows), on the chest, belly, and inner legs.

Social traits

The Bluetick Coonhound is a friendly and affectionate dog who likes the company of people. They also go very well with other dogs, if they have been well-socialized! You will find out that some people say they are not the friendliest of hounds, but it all depends on how well they were socialized.

People bred Coonhounds of all kinds to work together pursuing prey. That ‘working in a group’ gene is still strong in today’s Coonhounds, including the Bluetick Coonhound.

They also make good family pets because they are great playmates for older children. Don’t leave young children alone with any dog, regardless of size. Of course, these are general rules. You have to understand that a dog can be naturally friendly but if you raise them in a wrong way, they will act aggressively toward people. 

Their high prey drive makes Bluetick Coonhounds unsuitable for homes with small animals. Yes, they will consider a cat or another animal part of their group if raised together, but they will still see any other small animal as prey.

Trainability

I am going to be honest: they are not the best dogs for obedience training. But it has nothing to do with how clever they are. It depends on what you expect a hound dog to do. A hound dog will not obey every single command like a Belgian Malinois or a Border Collie. They are not herding or working dogs!

You can train a Bluetick Coonhound, but recall and general obedience once off-leash will always be an issue. It’s something that goes hand in hand with a hound. That’s what people wanted them to be – search for prey, work on their own with general commands from owners.

Another important thing: Bluetick Coonhounds are large dogs and hounds, which means that their puppy phase might last longer than you expected. Don’t expect them to change their “puppy phase” behavior drastically before they reach 2 or 3 years of age.

Activity Needs

These are active dogs! Period! Yes, like any other hound, they love to lounge and snuggle on the sofa after a hard-working day. But, it’s AFTER a HARD-WORKING day. You cannot leave a Bluetick Coonhound with nothing to do all day long, day after day.

You shouldn’t do this to any dogs, but especially not dogs who are hounds, and not companion dogs or lap dogs. They need to go outside and sniff, explore, and walk for miles and miles. A quick walk in the morning and evening won’t work.

A Bluetick Coonhound needs at least 2 hours of daily activities. Divide this amount into two parts or bulk it all together, it doesn’t matter. They can do it and will love you for it!

Feeding

Generally speaking, an adult Bluetick Coonhound needs from 2 to 3 cups of kibble food a day. If you have a very active dog you use in some kind of sport or you go hiking, on very long walks, and so on, your dog might need even more than this.

It is best to divide the amount of kibble food into two meals. For example, to feed your dog three cups of food daily, give it 1 1⁄2 cups in the morning and 1 1⁄2 cups in the evening.

The best option is to consult a vet. They can do a physical examination of your dog and recommend the best amount and type of food. Some people feed their dogs a mix of homemade and kibble. Some give them a raw diet. 

You can also try one of the popular brands that are often recommended by vets, such as the Hill’s Science Diet. They are often a choice of food when a dog has issues with an upset stomach. 

Whatever you choose, the point is to give your dog a balanced diet: high in proteins, low in carbohydrates, and enough minerals and vitamins. The key is to keep our dogs healthy and not overweight or underweight. You can use the BCS to determine your dog’s weight quickly.

Grooming

The Bluetick Coonhound sheds moderately. You will need to brush them often, at least two times a week or at least once a week, to keep the fur healthy, shiny, and to get rid of the hair. You can use the so-called ‘hound glove’ to brush a Coonhound. 

These brushes are also good as a massage for your dog. But I do recommend using an additional brush, such as a short bristle brush. Like any other dog, they need regular nail trimmings. Of course, if they get dirty, an occasional bath is in order.

Possible Issues

Generally speaking, a Bluetick Coonhound is a healthy dog. There are no recommended health tests from the National Breed Club. Responsible breeding programs are what keep the breed healthy. 

But, there is a possible issue that cannot be prevented through proper breeding programs and it affects all large and deep-chested dogs: Bloat or GDV. It’s starts suddenly, and to be completely honest, scientists still don’t know what exactly causes the issue.

Final Thoughts

The Bluetick Coonhound is not a dog breed you will see often on the streets of a big city around the world. It’s a dog often seen in places where hunting as a sport is still very popular. For example, hunting with Coonhounds (including Bluetick Coonhounds as well) is very popular in the southern parts of the United States. Unfortunately, you will also often see lots of Coonhounds in their shelters. So, if you are interested in this breed, check out your local shelter. I am sure you can find a suitable Coonhound for you and your family.

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Cover photo by Bark